Methyl silicone elastomers containing si-bonded vinyl radicals



Patented July 27, 19 48 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHYL SILICONE ELASTOMERS CONTAIN- ING Si-BONDED VINYL RADICALS JamesgMarsden, Schenectag, N. Y., assignor-to General Electric Company, a corporation o!'*' New York No Drawing. Apolicatlon June 11, 1945, Serial No. 598,912

The present invention relates to methyl vinyl silicone or polysiloxane elastomers and gums. It is particularly concerned with silicone gums and elestomers containing small amounts of vinyl groups attached to silicon.

Methyl silicone elastomers and methods of preporing such elastomers are described in the copending application of Maynard C. Agens, Serial No. 526,473, and the copeuding application of James G. E. Wright and Curtis 8. Oliver, Serial No. 526,472, both of which applications were filed March A, 19%, and assigned to the same assignee es present invention. Briefly described, these known silicone elastomers comprise mixtures of (l) dimethyl silicone gums obtained by treating liquid dimethyi silicones with a suitable agent such as ferric chloride or mixtures of ferric oxide and aluminum chloride, and (2) suitable fillers. The silicone gums can also be prepared by treatiog the liquid silicones with sulphuric acid as described in the copendiug application S. 326. 593,913, filed concurrently herewith in names of James iviarsderi and George F. Roedel and assigned to the some assigrzee as the present inveution. The methyl-tosilioon ratio of the gums rcu es from 1.93 to 2.66. They are prepared from liqu i mixtures of polymeric silicones having the some ruethyl-tc-silicon ratio, which liquid slii= cones are in tum obtained by hydrolysis of e, pure or substcntialy pure dimetliyl siiane having the iormule. (CI-IsieSiXz, where 2 1 represents a by droiycable group such as a halogen or alizoxy radical, containing not more than 2 mol per cent oi a hydrolyzab e mono--methyl silone of the iorzncle, CcsEiIiZs. To obtain elastomers which can be rapidly cured, for example, in e. closed mold, small amounts of benzoyl peroxide or other suitable cetoiyst are added to the gum-filler mireat the time the gum and filler are worked on the rubber rolls. In the cured or vulcanized state the resultant elastomers possess some or" the properties of vulcanized natural rubber and are particularly characterized by their flexibility at low temperatures and their resistance to heat.

The present invention is based on the discovery that elestomers of improved hardness and compression set characteristics can be obtained from high molecular weight methyl polysiloxanes containing a small proportion of vinyl groups in place of some of the methyl radicals wherein the ratio of the sum of the methyl and vinyl group per silicon atom is from 1.95 to 2.00, preferably from 1.98 to 2.00.

The elsstomers of the present invention can be prepared for example, from gums obtained by GClalms. (or. 260-465) polymerizing the cohydrolysis products of a mixture of (l) a pure dimethyl-substituted eliaue oil he type herelnbefore described contouring: up to 2 mol per cent of a monomethyl-substituted silane having three hydrolyzeble (23:) groups connected to silicon, and (2) not more then about 2& mol per cent, preferably from about tile to Mt moi per cent oi a methylvinyl-substituted silene or e divinyl-substituted silane containing two siliconbonded hydrolyzable (X) groups. They con also be prepared from the products of copolymerir-ation of a mixture oi a dimethyl polysilcxanedud a divinyl polysiloxeu'e or a methylvinyl polyril oxane having the unit structure,

in such proportions as to obtain products oi the some vinyl content as those obtained from the above-mentioned cohydrolysis orocess. such co= polymerization may be accomplished by moods of sulphuric acid or ferric chloride to the manner hereinbefore described. Elestouters the scope of the present invention olso be oi2= teined by substituting a methyl vinyl or .silaue for part of the dimethyl silezze comsooeot, or a mortoviuyl silerie such as vioyltriclsiorosii for all or part of the mouomethyl silane co net-rt, of the mixtures oi hydrolyzable motto, di and tri-methyl sileoes employed in the ore tion oi the elastomers described and clai the cooending ap-tilicatiou. S. 5953314 con currently herewith in the rte-mes of Robert E. Eirieble John Elliott and assigned to same es-signee as the present invention.

The vinyl silanes employed in the oractice oi the present invention may be prepared from sui able ethyl silicon halides by introducing chlorine into the ethyl radical or radicals thereof and subsequently subjecting the chlorinated product to dehydrochlorination to form the corresponding vinyl-substituted silane. For example by this process vinyltrichlorosilane is prepored from ethyltrichlorosilane and vinylmethyldichlorosilane from ethylmethyldichlorosilane. The chlorination of the ethyl radical can be accomplished by the use of sulfuryl chloride while the dehydrochlormation of the resultant chloroethyl groups can be carried out, for example, by heating the chloroethyl derivatives with an excess of quinoline or other suitable tertiary amine.

The above-mentioned products will ordinarily be in the form of, or can be converted to, a. gum

which is then used in the preparation of an elastomer. Elastomers can also be prepared from high viscosity liquid silicones. As will be de- (C Hi) All and a few vinyl silicon units which may be monovinyl silicon units,

cnl=cn)ei i divinyl silicon units,

(CHa=cH)aA|l or methyl vinyl silicon units,

(OHi)(CHa=CH)B:i I

In some cases, trirnethyl silicon units, (CH3)3$1, or monomcthyl silicon units,

or both will also be present. It is to be understood of course that each of the unsatisfied valences in these unit structures are attached to the oxygen atoms which iinir the various units together to make up thepolymeric methyl vinyl silicone or polysiioxane. The polysiloxane or silicone components of all of the elastomeric products of the present invention are also characterized by the fact that they contain both methyl-substituted and vinyl-substituted silicon atoms with from 0.18 to 5 per cent of the silicon units into the molecules of the liquid silicones and gums from which the elastomers are prepared, the catalysts, treating agents, etc., and usually the processes, employed in the preparation of the elastomers o! the present invention are the same as those employed in the preparation of the elastomers described and claimed in the above-mentioned copending applications. For example, when the liquid silicones are converted to gums, this may be accomplished by suitable treatment thereof wlth ferric chloride, sulphuric acid, etc. The resultant gums, preferably after first being washed to remove most or all of the catalyst, are then compounded with suitable fillers, curing catalysts and the like and thereafter cured to bring out more fully the elastomeric properties.

The data given in Table I shows the marked improvement in the hardness and compression set characteristics obtained by introducing vinyl groups into methyl silicone gums employed in the preparation oi elastomers. The gums employed in the preparation of the elastomers whose characteristics are set forth in Table I were all prepared by adding the weight per cent of the vinyl chlorosilane given in the second column to a dimethyldichlorosilane containing 0.15 mol per cent methyltrichlorosilane, hydrolyzing the resultant mixture and treating the liquid silicone hydrolysis product with ferric chloride. Elastomers were then prepared by milling 100 parts of each of the resultant gums with one part lead oxide, 200 parts titanium oxide, and two parts of benZoyl peroxide, after which the milled products were pressed and vulcanized in a steam heated press at 150 C. for 10 minutes, and then further cured at 200 C. in an air circulated oven for the times indicated in the table. The lead oxide was employed for the purpose of neutralizing any residual ferric chloride present in the gum. Elastomers containing lead oxide as an essential ingredient are described and claimed in copending application 5. N. 050,128, flied August 11, 1944, in the names of James-Marsden and George F. Roedel, now Patent No. 2,436,220, and assigned to the same assignee as this present invention.

Table 1 Per Cent Cure, Per Cent Tensile Elastomer Vinylchiorosilane lam/0Q Hardness Cggitp. Elong' p a I A None (Control Sample) 2/100 38 81. 5 103 572 4/200 32 92. 0 172 685 12/200 33 70. 7 24/200 37 06. 0 104 002 72/200 43 49. 2 188 720 B 0.2% Methylvinyldichlorosilnne 2/100 42 I 51.0 lid 5530 4/200 42 55. 0 12/200 45 49. 0 -l26 635 24/200 48 39. 5 140 020 72/200 20. 6 120 720 C 0.5% Mothylvinyldiohlorosilane 2/100 70 42. 6 135 680 4/200 70 36. 3 800 12/200 72 32.0 56 720 24/200 72 2B. 0 68 800 72/200 70 23. l M 815 D 1% Methylvlnyldicblorosilsne 2/100 72 40. 8 40 435 4/200 74 20. 0 44 605 l2/200 75 26. 2 2 200 76 24.0 30 470 72/200 Si 46 700 E 1% Divinyldichlorosilane 2/100 76 30. 3 08 705 4/200 77 25. 5 46 072 atoms being connected to at least one vinyl radical.

Except for the introduction of the vinyl silicon The hardness was measured by means of a Shore type A durometer. The per cent compression set was determined following a, modification of the A. S. T. M. B49540! revised method 3" Molded plugs of the elastomers were compressed to 70 per cent of their original thickness between steel plates. heated while under compression at a temperature of 150 degrees C. for 8 hours, and then allowed to cool. The pressure was released and the thickness of the resultant plug measured one hour thereafter. The figures given in the table indicated the compression set of the plus as a result of the treatment. A 100 per cent compression set would indicate no recovery, while a zero compression set would mean that the plug returned to its original thickness after release the pressure.

From the results set forth in the above table it will be noted that a marked difference in hardness and compression set characteristics or the elastomers are obtained by the introduction of vinyl groups which in this case was accomplished by adding a hydrolyzabl methylvinyl silane to the dimethyl silane mixture rom which the gums were prepared. The improvement in this respect became more marked as the proportion of the vinyl-silicon units was increased. A particular advantage of the invention is that it makes possible the preparation of elastomers having lower compression set after molding than those made from methyl silane gums. of both types of eiastomers may be reduced by curing in air at elevated temperatures. However, less time is required to reduce the compression set to a minimum value in the case of an elastomer containing vinyl groups. Because these elastomers are relatively harder and have lower compression set characteristics than the straight methyl silicone elastomers of the same formulation, they are particularly useful as gasket materials, shock absorbers and the like, especially under high temperature conditions. They may also be used as cable insulation and the like in the electrical industry. The results given in Table I indicate that when the polymers contain a relatively large amount of vinyl-substituted silicon atoms, it makes little difference whether these silicon atoms are attached to one or two vinyl groups, that is whether the source of these silicon atoms was a. methyl-vinyl or divinyl silane, actually a comparison of the physical properties of elastomers C, D, and E indicates that no particular advantage is to be expected by further increasing the vinyl content of these products. While the proportions of methylvinyl silicon units or divinyl silicon units can be increased above the amounts indicated in the table, the gums best suited for the preparation of elastomers should not contain more than about 2 per cent of the silicon atoms thereof connected to a vinyl radical. Elastomers of this type are, of course, not restricted to those obtained from gums prepared by this particular process or from these particular silanes. The invention rather includes any gum of the type described in the above-mentioned copending applications. The improvements obtained by the substitution of vinyl groups for some of the silicon-bonded methyl groups has been found to be generalrto all of these types of elastomers, which may contain only dimethyl silicon units, both dimethyl silicon units and some monomethyl silicon units or monomethyl, dimethyl, and trimethyl silicon units. The gums will have an R/Si ratio of from about 1.98 to 2.00 where It represents both' vinyl and methyl radicals and at least 0.18 per cent of the silicon atoms will be connected to a vinyl group.

The compression set It has been found also that the same degree of vulcanization or cure of the eiastomers of the present invention can be obtained with relatively smaller proportions of benzoyl peroxide. In Table II are listed the properties of two rubbers having the same composition as elastomer D set forth in Table I, except that only 1 per cent and 0.5 per cent of benzoyl peroxide were reher from the point of view of low compression set was obtained by use of one per cent peroxide as compared with double this amount for sample D of Table 1.

Alternatively these silicone elastomers can be prepared from high viscosity liquid inethylvinyi polysiloxanes havinga viscosity of 1000 centistokes or more and containing up to 5 per cent, or more, preferably about 2 to 5 per cent of silicon atoms attached to at least one vinyl group. I have found that sulphuric acid within the preierred range of concentrations referred to in the above-menvinyl groups without reducing the vinyl contentv thereof. In this connection, the absence of any substantial polymerization of the vinyl group by sulphuric acid can best be illustrated by specific tests on a methylvinylsilicone having the unit structure [(CHa) (CHr CH) S10]. The unsaturation of an oily methylvinylsilicone prepared by hydrolysis of a substantially pure methylvinyldichlorosilane corresponded to a molecular weight of 91.2 per double bond. This oil, after polymer- :ization to a very viscous liquid by shaking with 25.6N sulphuric acid for 2 hours, had an unsaturation corresponding to 89.4 per double bond. It is obvious that no unsaturation was lost during polymerization and indeed the determined values compare favorably with the calculated molecular weight of 86.1 per double bond for methylvinylsilicone.

The following example illustrates the preparation of such an elastomer from a viscous liquid silicone. An oil was prepared by cohydrolyzing dimethyldichlorosilane, 5 mol per cent methyl- I, vinyldichlorosilane and about 0.12 mol per cent monomethyltrichlorosilane. This oil was further polymerized by shaking it with an equal weight of 20.05N sulphuric acid for 2 hours at room temperature. The polymerization was then stopped by washing the oil to remove the sulphuric acid. The washed product had a viscosity of 1129 centistokes at F. v100 parts of the viscous oil was mixed with 200 parts of titanium dioxide and various amounts of benzoyl peroxide were milled into portions of this mixture. The resulting compounds were molded at C. for

10 minutes and subsequently cured at 200 C. The physical properties are given in the table below:

tutedgpolysiloxane consisting of silicon and oxygen atoms. and methyl-substituted and vinyl- High viscosity liquid methyl vinyl polysiloxanes suitable for the preparation of elastomers can also be obtained by polymerization of a polysiloxane system containing monomethyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyi-substituted silicon atoms as well as vinyl-substituted silicon atoms.

The foregoing type of elastomers are adapted for the usual elastomer applications and also for application to a fabric or other fibrous sheet material to produce a rubberized" -cloth. For example, the uncu ed or partially curved mixture of oil, filler and catalyst can be applied to a fibrous sheet material by means of rollers or doctor blades, and subsequently cured in situ by subjecting the coated sheet to elevated temperatures.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A solid elastomer comprising a solid, elastic, curable, hydrocarbon-substituted polysiloxane consisting of silicon and oxygen atoms, and methyl-substituted and vinyl-substituted silicon atoms. wherein the average ratio of the sum of the methyl and vinyl groups per silicon atom is from 1.95 to 2.00, and from 0.18 to 2.0 per cent substituted silicon atoms, wherein the average ratio of the sum of the methyl and vinyl groups per silicon atom is from 1.98'to 2.00, and from 0.10 to 2.0 per cent of the silicon atoms are connected to at least one and not more than two vinyl groups.

ii. A solid elastomer comprising (1) a filler and (2) a solid, elastic, curable. hydrocarbon-substituted polysiloxane consisting of silicon and oxygen atoms. monomethyi, dimethyl-, and methyl vinyl-substituted silicon atoms, wherein the average ratio of the sum of the methyl and vinyl groups per silicon atom is from 1.98 to 2.00. and from 0.10 to 2.0 per cent of the silicon atoms are attached to one methyl group and one vinyl group.

5. A composition of matter capable of being heat-cured to a solid, elastic mass and comprising (1) a filler. (2) a high viscosity liquid methyl vinyl polysiloxane consisting of silicon and oxygen atoms, and methyl-substituted and vinyl-substituted silicon atoms, wherein the average ratio of the sum of the methyl and vinyl groups per sili- REFERENCES CHTED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNI'IED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hurd May 20, 1947 Number 

